The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-03-24
THE BISHOPS STORY.
Observation-Disclosures CHAT

Ill OA014VA ~ S4 VAS9s
A Conscisnce.Stricken Ghost.
Charles Webster, F. T. 8. in the Theoso.
phist.
1t was at the dinner table of one OF
he highest dignitAries at the church
! man whose name, were at liberty
20 mention it, would command recog-
lition and respect wherever the En-
,lish language is spoken-that heard
ihe stories which / am about to re-
ate. ] am aware that to give the
name of the narrator would add
greatly to the value of the
account with many minds. and in
Iced have no reason to suppose that
there would be any objection to my
mentioning it; but l did not ask per-
mission to do so, (having at the time
not the slightest idea of ever publish
ing the tales) and therefore refrain.
The second story which the bishop
related to us was OF q different char
acter, and its events took place at q
much later period OF his life. 1t APP
pears that on the day in question he
had accepted an invitation to dinner
1t certain house in one OF the mid
and counties. Happening to arrive
somewhat earlier than usual, he found,
On being shown into the drawing
room, that the hostess was not yet
down, the only occupant OF the room
being a Roman Catholic priest-a
complete stranger to him-who was
seated upon a sofa intently reading
large book. As the Bishop entered
the priest raised his eyes, made him a
courteous but silent bow, and again
resumed his reading. He was a strong
ly built, active-looking man-appar-
entity rather a muscular Christian; but
there was in his face an expression OF
WEAKNESS and anxiety that attracted
the bishops attention, and he wonder
ed much within himself who he could
DO and how he came to be invited to
that house. Soon other guests ap-
peared, and the hostess came down
30 full of apologies for not being in
readiness to receive her guest on his
arrival, that the questions he had in
tended to ask about the stranger
priest were forgotten for the time.
When seated next to his hostess at the
dinner table, however, they required
to his memory, and turning to her, he
remarked:
"By the way, you did not introduce
me to that interesting-looking priest
whom l found in the drawing-room;
who is he?"
Then looking along the table. he
continued with some surprise: "He
does not seem to have come in to din
ner."
A very strange look passed over the
hostess's face. as she said hurridly, al
most in whisper: What, did you
actually see him, then?"
Certainly did,; replied the Bis
hop; "but beg your pardon; l fear l
have unintentionally mentioned SUBJ
iect which is unpleasant to you-per-
haps intruded upon some family Sc
rret. had no idea but that the priest
was simple guest, like myself, and
his appearance interested me SO much
that I wished to ask for an introduc-
zion; but it you are anxious for some
reason that his presence here should
be concealed, need hardly assure you
that you may depend upon my 81
lence."
mo, no, my lord" answered the
hostess, still in a low tone. ''you mis-
understand me entirely, there is moth
ing which wish to conceal, though
this is subject which my husband
does not like to have mentioned. ]
was surprised to hear that the priest
had shown himself to you, because
until now this has never happened ex'
cept to member OF our own family.
What you saw was no visitor, but an
apparition."
ian apparition?" calculated the
| Bishop.
YES" continued the hostess, "and
one whose supernatural character it
is impossible to doubt. for during the
two years we have lived in this house
il has shown itself perhaps dozen
times to my husband and myself un.
der circumstances in which either self.
deception or imposition were quite
out of the question. Since we cannot
explain it, and are well-assured that
it Is due to no natural causes, we havi
decided not to speak of it to any one
But since you have seen Tiny lord,
will you do me favor?"
"Most certainly, if it be within my
power" replied he, II have often
thought" she resumed, "that if any
one could be found who had courage
to address it, we might perhaps be
relieved from its presence. Can you
will you-make some trivial excuse
for going back to the drawing-room
for few minutes, ses il the priest be
still there, and, if he be, speak to him
-adiure him to depart from this
house-sEorcise him, in fact?'
After some hesitation the Bishop
agreed to make the proposed expert
ment. His whispered conversation
with the hostess having been appar
emily unobservad, he excused himself te
her in q louder tone for 2 few moments
absence, and left the room, wavins
back the servant who would have at
tended him. II was a strange thrill
of awe that, on entering the drawing
room, he perceived the figure of tn
priest still seated in the same spot
still diligently persuing his great bre
wary, if such it was; but with unshaker
resolution he walked slowly forward
and stood directly in front OF the ap
partition. As before, the priest greet
ed him with courteous inclination
of the head, but this time instead o
Immediately returning to the bool
his eyes rested, with look of infinite
WEAKNESS, and yet with q kind of sup
pressed eagerness also, upon the Bish
ops face. After a moments pause
the Bishop snid slowly and solemnly
"In the name ct God, who are you
! and what do you WANT"
The apparition closed it's book, ross
from its seat, stood confronting the
bishop, and, after a slight hesitation
spoke Ia g. lev but measured voice:
II have never been 30 adjured before
I will tell you who I am and What
want. AS you see, am 6
4